Feeling down in the dumps? Sometimes we don’t have the time to spend a day at the spa or invite friends and family over to de-stress and cheer us up, so we’ve compiled a list of quick tricks to give you a no-prescription-required burst of bliss in a jiffy. Here are 10 instant ways to boost your mood:
Who doesn’t love a good soak in the bath? A study by Yale University revealed that relaxing amongst the bubbles does more than simply relax and refresh our bodies. In fact, a warm bath or shower can act as an effective substitute for social interaction when we’re feeling lonely. The researchers from Yale University questioned 51 students about their everyday routines and their emotions, which revealed that those who regularly soaked in a warm bath and had hot drinks felt happier than those who had quick showers and very few hot drinks. If you need a quick pick-me-up, have a soak in the bath. If you need an even quicker pick-me-up, simply make yourself a warm drink for an instantly better mood.
Sometimes when we’re feeling down, a good serving of mood-boosting nutrients is all we need. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh carried out a study in which they took blood tests from 106 healthy adults and measured their happiness. The study revealed that those with higher levels of omega 3 in their blood were 49 to 58 per cent happier than those with lower omega 3 levels. Chocolate is an excellent mood booster too. The high levels of serotonin, alongside many other ‘happy chemicals’, promote feelings of contentment. “A square of chocolate a day keeps the sadness away” – that’s our new motto.
A great way to instantly boost your mood when you have little time is to keep an essential oil close-by. When you’re feeling down essential oils can make you feel more positive, calmer and less anxious. Researchers in Austria tested volunteers’ moods before and after they inhaled calming scents such as lavender and oranges and noticed a significant rise in their moods after inhaling the oils. The participants reported that they felt less anxious and more upbeat compared to before. If you’re having a deadline-packed day at work, or you’re feeling a little jittery about something else, simply putting a few drops of essential oil on a tissue or use a reed diffuser to disperse your favourite scent through the room and make you feel a whole lot better instantly.
It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re down, and smiling when you feel like screaming can feel unnatural, but just try it. Experts suggest that how we act physically can affect how we feel emotionally. Psychologists at the University of Cardiff recently discovered that those who have an inability to frown because of botox injections feel much happier than those whose muscles allow them to frown. It appears that our emotions aren’t restricted to our brain, as acting happy will make our brain feel happy too. As well as this, smiling means that people will subsequently want to talk to you more, leading to you making more friends and being a generally happier person. Go on, crack a smile and see how it makes you feel. Alternatively, go the whole hog and go in for some laughter therapy.
The internet is packed with funny video footage of everything from dancing cats to bad audition tapes and even dogs on skateboards. When you’re feeling stressed and down, taking five minutes out to watch a funny video will help you to relax, take your day less seriously, and release some natural feel-good chemicals at the same time. Indeed, laughter releases endorphins that relieve anxiety and make you feel upbeat. Experts suggest that laughter also leaves your muscles relaxed for up to 40 minutes afterwards too, so it really is a great way to perk up your day. A good dose of the giggles is infectious and makes you even happier when you’re with others, so get some friends or colleagues together and watch a funny clip.
Of course, all this can be done on our sofa. In case you need a more comfortable sofa or is thinking of upholstery to renew the mood in your home. You can contact us at centrepiece furnishing. Text Vince for an appt @ 90305057. info(AT)centrepiece.com.sg
